ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Da Vinci Science Center’s longtime home at Cedar Crest College is set to become a private elementary school once the center opens its new state-of-the-art facility in downtown Allentown.
Allentown-based global technology services company CAI will run CAI Learning Academy out of the old facility, the science center announced Tuesday. The academy is now located at 1033 Washington St.
Da Vinci Science Center’s Cedar Crest facility will be open through April 1, officials said.
Construction crews are making quick progress on the $80 million, 67,000-square-foot facility in the 800 block of Hamilton Street ahead of its planned opening in May.
Science center officials last week welcomed Allentown School District — and LehighValleyNews.com — on a rare tour of the new building, which will dwarf the current facility.
Da Vinci Science Center’s Cedar Crest facility will be open through April 1, with the downtown facility to open in May.Da Vinci Science Center officials
The new facility will have about three times as much space and will offer exhibits and programs for people of all ages, Chief Executive Officer Lin Erickson said.
Officials expect those offerings to make the science center a major attraction, with about 400,000 visitors expected to come each year.
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Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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Lin Erickson, Executive Director and CEO of Da Vinci Science Center, left, and Dr. Carol D. Birks, Superintendent of the Allentown School District tour the new Da Vinci Science Center Tuesday. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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A Mack Truck greets guests in the Welcome Center in the main lobby. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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Andrene Nowell, President of Allentown School Board, center, and others learn about Da Vinci Science Center. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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Guests walk by the Court Street entrance to the Da Vinci Science Center. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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— Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion
This rooftop area that features a view of the PPL Center will be covered with a pergola. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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— Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion
Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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Visitors learn about the Lehigh Valley Health Network "My Body' section, a gallery focused on the human body. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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— Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion
The new Da Vinci Science Center is at right with the orange trim. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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— Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion
Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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— Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion
Classrooms in the making are filled with construction materials Tuesday. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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Guests tour the Science in the Making area where Lehigh Valley manufacturing and industry science is applied. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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Dr. Morcease Beasley looks at progress on the new center. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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Members of the Allentown School District team peer into an office that they will be using. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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Dr. Carol D. Birks, Superintendent of the Allentown School District, left, and Lin Erickson, Executive Director and CEO of Da Vinci Science Center tour the new Da Vinci Science Center Tuesday. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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Lin Erickson of Da Vinci Science Center, left, talks about the Lehigh River Watershed Area display. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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— Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion
Guests tour the Science in the Making area where Lehigh Valley manufacturing and industry science is applied. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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— Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion
Visitors learn about Curiosity Hall and the Science Theater. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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— Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion
The Science Theater is under construction. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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— Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion
Visitors learn about Curiosity Hall and the Science Theater. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
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— Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion
The new Da Vinci Science Center is at right with the orange trim. Representatives of the Da Vinci Science Center lead members of the Allentown School District Partnership on a tour of the new Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The new downtown center is at at 815 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Donna S. Fisher
Planned features include a science-themed theater, space for several traveling exhibits and a Lehigh River Watershed exhibit that will house four North American otters.
The center also will have “an interactive and immersive space,” known as Curiosity Hall, that will explore Leonardo Da Vinci’s legacy as an inventor, scientist and artist, officials said on the tour.
A gallery known as "Science in the Making” will explore science and manufacturing in the Lehigh Valley.
And the building’s bottom floor is set to become a STREAM Academy for Allentown students and a secondary campus for Central Elementary School.
